This year’s Local Hero is Paul Davies who thwarted thieves attempting to steal £15,000 and held on to his man despite a car ramming his leg.

The 46-year-old DJ and events organiser from Reading flew into selfless and chivalrous action in June 2010, in defence of a screaming woman.

And after collecting his award for his bravery, Mr Davies said the presentation had been “one of the best moments of my life”.

The bag of money Mr Davies saved from the hands of the would-be thieves, who haven’t been found, was bank holiday takings from the Toby Carvery in Richfield Avenue.

Restaurant manager Steve Bangs and a female colleague had been on their way to deposit the money when Mr Davies and his father saw a thief smashing a car window with a crowbar and reaching for the bag.

Mr Davies dragged the thief from the car and held on to him until the woman was safely out, despite a second man repeatedly driving the car into his leg. He has been left with a permanent knee injury.

After Friday’s presentation, the newly crowned hero said: “I didn't think I would win it. I heard a girl screaming and ran to do something about it. I pulled him [the would-be thief] out by the ankles and got him in a full Nelson lock and held him against the back of a trailer... I didn’t know what they would do about the girl.”

It wasn’t the first time this hero had had a go – when he lived in Sheffield he went to the aid of a taxi driver being throttled with a scarf by an attacker.

Mr Davies said: “This is one of the best moments of my life, except for when my daughter was born.

“I think it means the most to me for my daughter [Emily, aged six]. I have a permanent injury to the knee and I cannot do things I used to do.”